Participants in a protest rally yesterday in support of Uber urged the government to introduce “more choices” of public transport to Macau and authorise Uber’s ride-hailing app service.

The US-based global ride-hailing giant said in a statement on August 22 that it may suspend its local service on September 9.

The protest rally was organised by the grassroots Macau Community Development Initiative (MCDI). It aimed to urge the government to allow Uber’s continued operation in Macau and make it easier for residents to hail a taxi in the city, according to an MCDI statement.

Questioned by reporters about the number of protesters, MCDI Vice Supervisor Cloee Chao Sao Fong said, after handing their petition to an official outside Government Headquarters that about 1,000 people has joined the protest.

Howeverm a joint statement by the Public Security Police and the Transport Bureau (DSAT) said the protest has drawn about 200 deminstrators at its peak and that 60 police officers were deployed to maintain order.